Maritime patrol aircraft

A fixed-wing aircraft designed to monitor oceans and coastal waters, detect and track ships and submarines, and support maritime operations.

Sonobuoy: A deployable underwater acoustic sensor that relays detected sounds to ships or aircraft. Sonobuoys extend submarine detection beneath the aircraft’s flight path.
Anti-submarine warfare: Military operations intended to detect, track, deter, or destroy submarines. Submarine search and attack are defining missions for many patrol aircraft.
Anti-submarine warfare sensor systems: The acoustic, magnetic, radar, and other equipment used to detect and track submarines. Patrol aircraft combine several sensor types to search for submerged contacts.
P-3 Orion: A four-engine turboprop maritime patrol aircraft developed by Lockheed for the United States Navy. It became a widely operated example of a long-range anti-submarine and surveillance platform.
Anti-submarine warfare helicopter: A helicopter equipped to search for and attack submarines, often using dipping sonar. Helicopters can hover and deploy sonar, while fixed-wing patrol aircraft cover greater distances.
Magnetic anomaly detector: An instrument that detects distortions in Earth’s magnetic field caused by nearby ferromagnetic objects. It can help locate submarines after other sensors narrow the search area.
Maritime surveillance: The observation and monitoring of activity in seas and coastal waters. Patrol aircraft are one airborne means of maintaining a maritime picture.
Maritime radar: Radar designed to detect and track vessels and other objects over water. It provides wide-area surface searches and helps maintain contact with ships.
P-8 Poseidon: A jet-powered maritime patrol aircraft developed by Boeing from the 737 airliner. It represents the shift toward fast, networked patrol aircraft with modern sensors.
Naval reconnaissance aircraft: An aircraft primarily intended to gather intelligence about naval forces and maritime areas. Reconnaissance may share surveillance tasks but need not include patrol aircraft’s broader mission set.

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